I'm Crumbling as Everything Is Suddenly SO Loud!

[Esmerelda]

Hi everyone!

I joined today as I'm really having an awful time at the moment.

For the last month and a bit, I've been hearing what I thought was bass music from a new neighbour, I've been round to both sets of neighbours and have discovered that A) neither of the neighbours have changed and B) nothing has changed in their environment to be the source of the noise I hear.

It dawned on me that at the same time I started hearing it, I went to a wonderful Ed Sheeran concert. The music was very very loud, so loud, that you could hear it walking to the venue, 10 minutes away. My best friend suffered from a perforated ear drum due to the noise level.

Ever since then I've been hearing EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING! I've had moderate tinnitus for a few years now which doesn't really bother me. But, now I'm hearing low level frequencies that go through my entire body, makes my ears flutter, and basically drives me mad!! I find it so hard to get to sleep at night, even though I take sleeping tablets and currently have a 40w speaker under my pillow to drown out what I hear. I had to stop it this morning as I woke up with terrible ear ache.

Does anyone else suffer with low level noise at night? It's like I can hear everything so much louder now, it's truly awful. I can hear every little noise whereas before I didn't.

I'm also wondering if TRT is useful, as I can't carry on like this! I have a hearing test booked for Tuesday. Any suggestions or advice would be most gratefully received!! Many thanks.

 

[AfroSnowman]

I don't have much to offer as to advise as my experience is pretty different, but I just wanted to give you a virtual hug. I know how hard it can be.

 

[Esmerelda]

Thank you, Afrosnowman, that's much appreciated. Right back at ya!

 

[Rb86]

Yes, I can attest to similar feelings. I can't offer much insight other than "yeah me too!". I'm 4 months in. It goes through changes. Maybe 2 months or so in I was relieved of being as sensitive to certain frequencies like plans passing overhead, or the refrigerator, but it varies. Was a warbling subwoofer sound that came and went, but the past couple days have been a steady hum.

It's sensitive to the room I'm in. Seems to be the most livable when I'm outside rather than inside.

 

[Mister Muso]

I have a low drone along with other tones that came along a few years later. If it helps then I had got used to ignoring the drone before the other tones came along, and i think the low drone has got worse since then. So i know how it can reverberate around your head.

I find the following help to take my mind off it and help me fall asleep -

• Audio books
• Music with bass drone sounds - look up Liquid Mind
• Brown Noise
• 60 Hz drone sound (look up on Spotify or YouTube - your frequency may vary)

Also mindfulness meditation, diaphragmatic breathing and a bath at bedtime can all help.

Edit - it sounds crazy, but removing hard furniture from your bedroom and adding soft furnishings seems to help some people. Do you find the drone seems louder in some rooms than others? It may be more than psychosomatic, as we don't really understand the feedback loops that go on in our heads.

Good luck and protect your ears so you don't add to the tones you already have.

 

[Andrea Rings]

Hello, Esmerelda.
I joined this support group only minutes ago. I've been suffering from tinnitus for over two months, and I also feel as if I'm crumbling. I have found that my hearing is more sensitive now, too. Loud noises are especially loud and give me a startled, painful feeling in my ears. I have also found that if I hear a low-level noise, my mind continues to think I'm hearing it well after it has stopped. This is a terrible affliction. I am grateful, though, that I am not alone. What is TRT?

 

[billie48]

Hello, Esmerelda.
I joined this support group only minutes ago. I've been suffering from tinnitus for over two months, and I also feel as if I'm crumbling. I have found that my hearing is more sensitive now, too. Loud noises are especially loud and give me a startled, painful feeling in my ears. I have also found that if I hear a low-level noise, my mind continues to think I'm hearing it well after it has stopped. This is a terrible affliction. I am grateful, though, that I am not alone. What is TRT?

Warm welcome to the new members. Sorry I am on a cruise ship using their internet and so I will be brief. Those of you who suddenly feel everything is louder or sharper may be experiencing some degree of hyperacusis. This can happen after acoustic trauma from loud noise exposure such as loud concerts. Everything seemed so much louder or sharper. I had this condition too when my tinnitus was new and it lasted for months before it slowly faded. This fading happens for many members too. So don't despair. Things will improve and try to protect your ears from more damage by avoiding loud venues and using earplugs if necessary. Don't over protect from normal ambient sounds as this can lead to sound sensitivity. Take care. God bless you all.

 

[Mister Muso]

@Andrea Rings, sorry you're going through this.

My hyperacusis hit me hard around two months in as well. It's now six months and it has eased off to an almost tolerable level. I'm learning to ride out the spikes and when/when not to use ear plugs and muffs. Amitriptyline helps a lot if you can handle the side effects. Check my recent posts for more details. Don't lose hope it's a rough road alright but you've found a great community for help on getting through it.

 

[Appleseed]

The thing that surprised me most about this thread were the words 'Ed Sheeran' and 'Wonderful' in the same sentence!
Seriously though, I'm sort of in the same boat, my T didn't bother me for years, then I pushed my luck a bit in August and I'm having a spike or maybe a permanent increase ( hope not) and yes, I can hear people in the next room open a bag of crisps . I don't have much to offer other than yes, everything does seem so incredibly loud. It's easing a little bit though, this is pretty normal from what I remember of first getting Tinnitus. I would look into TRT and see what that can do, I'm starting acceptance counselling on Thursday.
Good luck! I hope it settles for you...maybe give the gigs a break for a few months, just to give your ears time to adjust / adapt.

 

[Esmerelda]

Thank you everyone for your input. I've been to an audiologist and have indeed been diagnosed with premature hearing loss. I've been referred to the ENT at Addenbrookes as a priority. I will definitely be looking into TRT. I currently play low level brown noise through a bass speaker and it is really helping. I'm so sorry that all of you are suffering, and can only hope that it eases. Again , many thanks for all of your responses. Happy, positive vibes to everyone!